Lavandula ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lavandula  cultivar named ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctively grey-green foliage and a moderately dense plant habit. The new variety produces light pink terminal bracts. The new variety is a  Lavandula , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lavandula hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lavandula cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Steven Eggleton, in Wonga Park, Australia.The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Lavandulavarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting inthis new variety was made during November of 2012.

The parent varieties are both proprietary, undistributed seedlings fromthe inventor's own breeding program. The new variety was first selectedin September of 2013 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resultingfrom the 2012 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Wonga Park,Australia. The inventor made further observations of the new variety,making a final selection in October of 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativecuttings. This was performed at a research greenhouse in Wonga Park,Australia in October of 2014 and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type through at least 5successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ as a newand distinct Lavandula cultivar:

-   -   1. Silver foliage.    -   Strong iridescent pink infertile bract coloration.    -   2. Light pink infertile bracts.    -   3. Medium dense plant habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ are similar to plants ofthe seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plantsof the new cultivar ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety is significantly more silver-grey        in color.    -   2. Infertile bracts of the new variety are shorter than those of        the seed parent.    -   3. Infertile bract color of the new variety is lighter pink than        the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ are similar to plants ofthe pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plantsof the new cultivar ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Infertile bract color of the new variety is light pink,        infertile bract color of the pollen parent is purple.    -   2. Plant density of the new variety is medium, plant density of        the pollen parent is weak.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ are comparable to thevariety Lavandula ‘Sweetberry Ruffle’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,447. Thetwo Lavandula varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ differs inthe following:

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety is significantly more silver-grey        in coloration.    -   2. Infertile bract color of the new variety is darker pink with        more lavender tones than the comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ can also be compared tothe commercial variety Lavandula ‘Strawberry Ruffles’ U.S. Plant Pat.No. 22,490. These varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ differs in the following;

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety is significantly more silver-grey        in coloration.    -   2. Infertile bract color of the new variety is much lighter pink        with more lavender tones than the comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ grown outdoors in Australia.

FIG. 2 is a close up view of the inflorescence. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 40 weeks from a rooted cutting.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ plants grown outdoorsduring, Spring, and Summer in Watsonville, Calif. The growingtemperature ranged from approximately 10° C. to 33° C. during the dayand from about 5° C. to 18° C. during the night. General lightconditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula hybrida ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10-14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 25-35 days at 21° C.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 40 weeks from rooted cutting.-   Plant spread: Approximately 29 cm.-   Plant height: Approximately 34 cm, to top of flowering plane.    Approximately 25 cm to top of foliar plane.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 15 to 20 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 3 mm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: About 20 to 30.-   Plant habit: Moderately dense upright plant.-   Branches/stems:    -   -   Juvenile color.—Near Greyed-Green 193C.        -   Semi-ripe color.—Near Greyed-Purple N187D.        -   Mature color.—Near Greyed-Green 197A covered in glaucous            layered colored 192D.        -   Texture/pubescence.—Soft and very short pubescence on            youngest stems, mature stem canescent, oldest stem            canescent, not woody or rough.-   Internode length: Approximate 1.0 to 1.5 cm. (mature lateral stem).

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf type.—Simple.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 8 to 14 per linear cm.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3.0 cm. (range 1.5 cm to 4.0            cm).        -   Average width.—Average 3 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of surfaces.—Softly pubescent all surfaces, short            pubescence.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Moderate resinous scent.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Greyed-Green 194A,            tinged 188D. Young foliage under side: Near Greyed-Green            194A, tinged 188D. Mature foliage upper side: Near            Greyed-Green 191B, tinged 188D. Mature foliage under side:            Near Greyed-Green 191C, tinged 188D.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate reticulate. Venation color upper            side: Indistinguishable from leaf blade. Venation color            under side: Near Greyed-Green 194C.        -   Petiole.—Absent.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Main Flush late winter to late spring. Spot flowering    occurs throughout Summer and Fall.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Small single flower in verticillasters arranged in            spikes. 6 to 10 rows of flowers. Flowers have small bracts,            and large showy terminal bracts. Number of individual            flowers per spike: Approximately 40 to 100. Corolla shape:            Salverform. Petal Number: 5. Petals Fused or Unfused: Fused            at base. Petal Shape: Top 2 lobes obovate, lower 3 lobes            ovate. Petal Margin: Entire. Petal Surfaces: Glabrous.            Length: Approximately 6 mm (corolla tube). Diameter:            Approximately 4 mm.        -   Inflorescence size, excluding terminal bracts.—Length:            Approximately 3 to 4 cm. Width: Approximately 2 cm. Shape:            Cylindrical. Coloration of individual flowers and entire            spikes, excluding terminal bracts: Immature: Near Purple            N81B. Mature: Near Purple-Violet N80B. Fading: Near            Purple-Violet N81C. Calyx Width: 2 mm. Calyx Length 7 mm.            Calyx Shape: Tubular. Calyx color: RHS Greyed-Green 190A.            Bract shape: Orbicular. Bract apex: Cuspidate. Bract Color:            Greyed-Green 190A.-   Terminal bracts (sterile):    -   -   Quantity.—Usually 4 per inflorescence.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Form and shape.—Petaloid, irregular oblong.        -   Margin.—Entire and undulating.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Apex.—Broadly Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Vein pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Duration on plant.—Approximately 12 weeks, with good color.            Persistent.-   Fragrance: Moderate resinous scent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—4.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.5 mm.        -   Anther width.—About 0.2 mm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187D.        -   Pollen quantity.—Pollen production not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 3 mm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 2 mm. Color: Near RHS White            N155A.        -   Stigma.—Length: Approximately 0.3 mm. Shape: Linear. Color:            Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187A. Ovary: Minute and            immeasurable.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Lavandula has been observed.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Hardy perennial. Tolerates    high temperature to at least 32° C. Tolerates low temperatures to    −12° C. While specific drought tolerance has not been observed, once    plants are established very little water is necessary to maintain    plants.-   Fruit/seed production: Fruit and seed production not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘GHOSTLY PRINCESS’ as herein illustrated and described. 